SSAC Meal Swipe Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to food for an active, healthy life. Mason Dining (Sodexo) began an almost decade-long partnership with the Student Support and Advocacy Center by donating physical meal vouchers to address this issue. Building on this initiative, the Meal Swipe Pilot program was established during the 2022-2023 academic year with Mason Dining making a significant donation of meal swipes.
In the Fall 2023 semester, the SSAC Meal Swipe Program was fully launched to further dedicate resources to promoting food security on George Mason’s campus. Students who are eligible for this program will receive 25 free meal swipes to be used at on-campus dining halls (Southside, Ike’s, The Globe). This program is not a replacement for a meal plan but an additional method to combat food insecurity on George Mason’s campus. Only one application can be submitted per semester and emergency requests for swipes beyond this limit will be considered case-by-case. We encourage students to connect with the Student Support and Advocacy Center to discuss long-term solutions to gain further support by Requesting Support.
Program Eligibility
The SSAC Meal Swipe Program has the following criteria:
- You are experiencing food insecurity.
- You do not currently have a campus meal plan through Mason Dining.
- You must be enrolled in at least one (1) credit hour in the Fall 2023 term in a degree-seeking program at George Mason University.
If you are an international student, you will need to download the W-8 Tax Document and submit it at the bottom of this application.
Meal Swipe Program Instructions
The application for the SSAC Meal Swipe Program includes eligibility questions and a food insecurity screener from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This screener allows the SSAC to identify students who need assistance in gaining adequate amounts of food, affording balanced meals, and having the means to purchase and cook food. Additionally, it provides students with further language to describe their experience, allowing them to better advocate for themselves and gain support.
After applying, please allow up to two weeks to receive an email regarding your application status. Once you receive confirmation that 25 swipes have been added to your Mason ID, you will receive information regarding usage deadlines. A Mason ID is needed to access meal swipes in the dining hall and instructions on acquiring your Mason ID can be found through the Mason ID Card Office.
The SSAC Meal Swipe Program is closed for the Spring 2024 semester and will reopen at the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester.
If you have any questions regarding the program, please email Dwayne Hamilton Jr., Assistant Director for Basic Needs Services, at dhamil3@gmu.edu.